Sprytelee Agility Training and Border Collies

16/08/2024

I'm not one for advertising many products but when you've been a member since the inception and you keep subscribing year after year I figure that's as strong an endorsement as I'm ever going to give. All Access registration closing midnight August 21 on Ohio time. Click the link below and see the value for your agility training dollar:
https://www.theagilitychallenge.com/?ref=1649

Join The Agility Challenge Today! Valued at over $11,000!! Get feedback on ALL your work from Daisy Peel & The Agility Challenge Contributors!

08/12/2023

Sharing this far and wide.

29/09/2023

The best online content and value for money you will ever find when it comes to Agility courses online. Why? Because you have access to SO MUCH material here. And it's all very self paced for those of us who lead very busy lives. And on the other side - any time I want to get direct support for an issue I can. Daisy Peel's The Agility Challenge is just quality material. I have been a member ever since she started it. Here's a look at the members landing page material - and NEW material is released every month. With forum discussions and lots of feedback. If you'd like to join click the link below - registration is only open for limited time each year.

https://www.theagilitychallenge.com/?ref=1649

04/07/2023

FOOD AND PUPPIES
Great post by Sue Hogben that she's given permission to share:

It's not unusual when you bring a new puppy home that they may not eat particularly well for the first couple of weeks.
If they look healthy and are running around happily, don't panic. There have been a lot of changes in their life and now they don't have their litter mates to compete with if they have been fed out of a common bowl.

I used to think if they were hungry they'd eat, but nowdays I would rather fuss a little over their food and get them eating quite quickly.

Try to keep them on the same food as the breeder had them on. Often breeders will give you some of their food to help out.
If they are being offered dry biscuit you could try wetting it and letting it soak so it's mushy, usually a couple of hours in the fridge so it soaks up all the water. Bring it back to room temperature or warm it up.

You could also use a bit of chopped up chicken or human grade beef mince, cook it lightly and mix through the biscuit. You can transition slowly back to raw food once they are eating if you are feeding raw.

Most of us put way too much food down for a new puppy. If they are eating a certain portion of food and leaving the rest, then try feeding only the portion they are eating.

Don't leave it down for them to pick at as they will become picky eaters. We want dogs to have a good healthy appetite and to eat straight away - if your dog eats his food straight away and one day he doesn't, it's a very good indication he may be ill. If he's a picky eater you don't have that as an early warning.

It's a good idea with all puppies to introduce small amounts of new foods every few days so they will learn to eat anything and everything they're given. Fussy eaters are not easy to live with! If they only eat one food and it's a commercial food, if the formula changes you could be in trouble.

Try to stick to 'plain' foods - don't start giving them bacon/ham etc., personally I stick to human grade meats with puppies at first when introducing new foods. Very small quantities of things like tuna/salmon/sardines/cheese (very salty so watch that), raw or cooked meat etc., all in small quantities mixed with their usual food.

If your pup has diarrhoea, vomiting and/or is lethargic, consult your vet straight away. If you take your pup to the vet, keep him in the car until the vet is ready to see him, not in the waiting room.

Always make sure they have free access to cool, fresh water.
If you are using any chew type toys or petshop treats make sure they are NOT MADE IN CHINA!!! Their food standards for pets are negligible. I always choose made in Australia or NZ

IN ADDITION: (My 5 cents FWIW) Just to say I've had all types come as puppies - and there is some nature involved with this that's for sure. But it is important to work on that drive for food with some not so overly keen eaters. My latest pup was pretty meh about food. Could take it or leave it and often left stuff in the bowl. I did as above, dropped the amount offered, added variety (even if just some chicken stock poured over puppy biscuits) and picked up bowl as soon as she left it. Started feeding by hand in some situations where it was convenient. Started to make use of the other dogs as a competitive element (be cautious/careful here - do not do this if you have any resource guarding issues!)She wasn't underweight or anything. We persevered and now she's a keen eater at mealtimes. However her food drive is noticeably different to Diaz. Diaz will turn herself inside out for food - even carrots! And fruit! Whereas Scully will do anything for that toy! I am careful to make sure we use both at every training session where appropriate to do so. The drive for food can be nurtured as mentioned above and is an important training tool. Never assume all dogs will just naturally want to eat with enthusiasm!

14/01/2023

Found this post via Sue Hogben (one of Australia's best dog trainers) and thought it excellent food for thought, competing is certainly an exciting and inviting goal to have but taking the time and making sure the foundations are solid and tight in every environment (no matter your dog sport of choice) is well worth the investment. At the same time, balanced with remembering dog training is a journey, and not every single skill is going to be polished to perfection before you step in the ring (or ever really!)

“It’s just a BH, I’ll clean up his heeling later.”

“I’m going to just get through rally titles, we’ll fix her fronts when we go for the CD.”

“I know he’s not really ready, but we can probably pass, and I’ll just finish his retrieves later.”

This is a really common mindset in the dog community.

It’s one we should really move away from.

We all have goals for our sport dogs, and sometimes those goals can seem like forever away. The hard work to get the heeling *mostly* there, and the retrieves *mostly* there, can feel like a slog when your dog is a year away from trialing.

But what is your end goal? Is it really clean heeling that’s easy for you to maintain? A dog who has great ring attitude for years and years?

As much time as those things take to create, you can ruin them really quick by jumping into trials and titling too quick. If Instagram posts are making you feel behind, here’s your Instagram post to tell you that it’s okay to make sure your dog has the right education to handle what trial day throws at them.

10/01/2023

More canine good citizenry quality content here with Kathy.

CANINE COFFEE CONSULTATION❗🐶☕⁣
⁣
This pretty girl is Macey.😊⁣
⁣
Macey and her mum Amy had a Canine Coffee Consultation with me.👍⁣
⁣
I cover a wide variety of topics during these fun, relaxed and informative consultations like we did for Amy and Macey.
⁣
Topics covered recently include shyness with people, fear of children, going out to a Café with your dog (very handy), generalised anxiety and that’s just to mention a few subjects.🆒️⁣
⁣
If you’re keen on finding out more about these unique consultations, I’m only a DM away.🙂⁣

10/01/2023

All things puppy... Is what's on my mind currently FB. Would there be any interest in a 6 week puppy basics (life and agility beginnings) class to be held in Byford on a Thursday or Friday evening? Start time flexible between 4 and 6.30 depending on weather, suiting majority attendees. Group numbers capped at 6. $30 per one hour session... Minimum of 3 attendees needed to run.
Comment below if interested.

26/11/2022

Kelly is one of the top trainers in the country. Her knowledge is invaluable - when she shares content freely like this I'm going to share it as far and as wide as I can.

26/11/2022

There is an absolute plethora of online training material out there. I choose this one - year after year. Detailed coverage covers the human fitness/motivation aspect as much as the canine aspect, gives me feedback as I ask for it and best of all - downloadable for life. Registration open now.

Monthly training challenges with feedback, coaching calls, League Play, & MORE!

12/10/2022

Love this not so typical agility shot taken by Sarah Zonneveld at the Perth Royal this year. Diaz is a highly aroused dog around agility. Start lines are always a WIP and I try to be as vigilant as possible around maintaining criteria. Asking for a slow duration behaviour like a hand touch is one of our tools for reinforcing self control and reminding her this is a "team" game we play. It doesn't always work. But I definitely think it helps keep the arousal in a more thoughtful state.